REFRIGERANT-BASED THERMAL ENERGY STORAGE AND COOLING SYSTEM WITH ENHANCED HEAT EXCHANGE CAPABILITY

摘要

Disclosed is a method and device to increase the cooling load that can be provided by a refrigerant-based thermal energy storage and cooling system with an improved arrangement of heat exchangers. This load increase is accomplished by circulating cold water surrounding a block of ice, used as the thermal energy storage medium, through a secondary heat exchanger (162) where it condenses refrigerant vapor returning from a load. The refrigerant is then circulated through a primary heat exchanger (160) within the block of ice where it is further cooled and condensed. This system is known as an internal/external melt system because the thermal energy, stored in the form of ice, is melted internally by a primary heat exchanger and externally by circulating cold water from the periphery of the block through a secondary heat exchanger.